Teaser Poster For The Smurfs 2 Has Arrived

What's the best way to tell people that the movie that you're marketing is a sequel? Why, have one of the characters in your poster hold up two fingers, of course!

We've seen it with movies like Big Momma's House 2, Saw 2, Scooby Doo 2, Ghostbusters 2, and Toy Story 2, and now Sony Pictures Animation is using the tried-and-true method to promote The Smurfs 2. Right on the heels of the new still that premiered late last week, Moviefone has gotten their hands on the first teaser poster for the upcoming movie, which will be a direct sequel to the hit from last summer. You can check out the poster below and see it in its highest resolution over at the source.

Directed by Raja Gosnell, who helmed the first feature, and featuring returning stars such as Neil Patrick Harris, Hank Azaria, Anton Yelchin, Katy Perry, Jayma Mays, Alan Cumming, Jonathan Winters and John Oliver, the sequel sees Gargamel working to turn creatures of his own creation - called The Naughties - into real Smurfs. When Smurfette learns the magic spell that Gargamel needs in order to complete his plan, he kidnaps her and The Smurfs must work together to create a plan so that they can rescue her. New additions to the cast include Christina Ricci and J.B. Smoove as the Naughies Vexy and Hackus, as well as Brendan Gleeson as Patrick Harris' stepfather.

Karey Kirkpatrick, David Ronn, Jay Scherick, J. David Stem and David N. Weiss are all credited with writing the screenplay and the film will be in theaters on July 31, 2013.